The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-02-11
under the flesh as he strained the heavy

under the flesh As he strained the heavy
brace.
The great yards swung easily; the
top-sail, tOp-gallant and royal yards
came round with the main yard. and
swung themselves when the sails filled.
There was no time TO gather in the
slack of the lee braces. ran to wind
ward, Delayed the braces and raised q
loud cry.
They're after US, boson.-they're
after usr'
Only the quarter-boat was in pursuit
as yet. They no doubt had guessed
their scheme had been baffled by dis
covering three men On board the ship.
As the boat approached l saw she
was rowed by four men, and that Ste
vens was steering her, making five in
sll. We made ready to receive them,
belaring pins. called to Miss Rob-
ertson to keep the ship steady as she
was.
| The boat urged furiously through
the water, csme up to us hand over
fist, the carpenter cursing US furiOusly,
| and swearing that he would do for Us
/ yet.
l got my pistol ready, meaning to
shoot the ruffian the moment he should
! be within reach of the weapon. but
| abandoned this intention from = motive
| of hate and revenge. knew if killed
! him as he sat there in the stern-sheets
| that the others would take fright and
, run away, and such was my passion,
| and the sense of our superiority over
them from our position in the ship as
against theirs in the boat. that | made
up my mind to let them come alongside
and get into the chains, so that We
might kill them all as a warning to the
occupants of the long-boat. who were
now coming down upon US before the
breeze.
took one glance at Miss Robertson;
her figure was visible by the side OF
the wheel. She was steering rs steadi-
~ Is any sailor, and with an emo
ton of gratitude to God for giving us
such help. and her so much courage as
this supreme moment. ! addressed all
| my energies TO the bloody work before
me.
The boat dashed alongside. and the
L
in the bow grabbed hold of one of the
chain-plates. passed the boats painter
around it, hauled it short and made it
fast with incredible activity and speed.
| Then, pulling their knives out of their
sheaths. they all came clambering into
the main chains.
So close as they now were. l could
make out the faces of the men. One
| was big johnson, another Cornish, the
third Fish. the fourth Schmidten.
/ alone was visible The boatswain
and the steward stood with untitled
ar,ns ready to strike at the first head
that showed itself.
The carpenter sprung on to the bull
wark just where stood. He poised
his knife TO stab me under the throat
Now you murierous, treacherous
rufiian.'' | cried. at the top Of my
voice. .say Your prayers" | leveled
the pistol at his head. the muzzle not
being yard away from his face, and
rulled the trigger. The bright flash il
Illuminated him ike 4 ray of lightning.
He uttered scream. shrll Is a child 5.
but terrific in intensity. ciapped lis
hands to his face and fell like Z stone
into the main-chainS.
1T is Your turn now l roared to
johnson, and let fly at him. He was
holding on to one of the main-shrouds
in the act of springing in TO the deck.
l missed his head, bat struck him on
the arm. | think: for he let 20 the
shroud with deep groan, reeled back
warl and toppled overheard and l
heard the heavy splash of his body rs
he fell.
But we We're not even now, three to
three. but three to one: for the boat
swain had let drive with his frightful
belaviIg-pin at Eish'S head, Just as
that enormous protuberancc had shown
itself over the bulwack. and the wretch
lay dead or stunned in the boat along
side; while the steward. who had Sc
creted 4 huge carvin g-knife in his
bosom, had stabbed the DUtchman
right III the stomach. leaving the knife
in him; and the miserable creature
hung over the bulwark. head and arms
hanging down toward the water. and.
suddenly writing is he hung, dropped
overheard.
Cornish, of al five men, alone lived.
had watched him aim a blow 1T the
boatswains back, and fired, but Missed
him. But he too had missed his aim.
and the boatswain, Suing round,
struck his wrist with the delaying pin
-whack. it sounded like the blow of
a hammer on woodland the Knife fell
from his hand.
Mercy. spare M life.' he roared.
seeing that l had again covered him,
having two more shots left.
The steward. capable. now that things
had gone Well with Us, of performing
prodigies of valor. rushed upon him.
laid hold of his legs, and pulled him
off the buIwark on 10 the deck.
l thought the fall had broken his
back, for he lay grooming and motion
less.
Don kill him." Icried. "slake his
hands fast and leave him for the pres:
ent. We may want him by and by
The boat>wain whipped ropes end
round him AMI showed him against the
rail, and then came running I'D tho
poop-ladder. wiping the streaming per-
spiration from his face.
The breeze was freshening. and the
boat alongside wobbled and splashed
as the ship towed her through the
water.
| ran aft and stared into the gloom
astcrn. l could see nothing of tho
long-boat. l looked again and again,
and fetched the right-glass. and by it
aid. sure enough, l bcheld her, a
smudge on the even ground OF the
gloom, standing away close 10 the
wind. for this much could tell by the
outline of her sail.
Miss Robertson" cried, ..we are